Patterned hosiery and method of knitting the same



July 13, 1965 J. w. KEZIAH, SR

PATTERNED HOSIERY AND METHOD OF KNITTING THE SAME 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 19, 1962 ain..

Rant

Him:

INVENTOR. JOHN W. KE-ZlAH,5E. YEaM.E M .-Lh%

J. w. KEZIAH, SR 3,194,030

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 13, 1965 PATTERNED HOSIERY AND METHOD OF KNITTINGTHE SAME Filed April 19, 1962 zmn, SR.

A;N mow EN KE- %mkkhmw% JOHN W.

Q v mw @wrmm l @11 .U i mmm n am. imm.

mN ON WU QW UMW2M%WN m g w m% I l GQ O D D09 0 P I, III Fl,

U W WW ATTORNEYS July 13, 1965 J. w. KEZIAH, SR 3, 94,030

PATTERNED HOSIERY AND METHOD OF KNITTING THE SAME Filed. April 19, 19625 Sheets-Sheet 5 Hllllll HIHIII lllllllllllll Hill! INVENTOR. JOHN W.KEZiAH, 52.

A T TORNE Y5 July 13, 1965 J. w. KEZIAH, SR 3,194,030

PATTERNED HOSIERY AND METHOD OF KNITTING THE SAME Filed April 19, 1962 5sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR: JoHN W. KEZlAH, 512.

annmmmg AT TOENE Y5 July 13, 1965 J. w. KEZIAH, SR 3,194,030

PATTERNED HOSIERY AND METHOD OF KNITTING THE SAME 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledApril 19, 1962 ATTORNE Y5 T 2\' JOHN W. KE:Z\AH,SR.

United States Patent 3,14,tl30 r EA'IIERNED HOSEERY AND METHOD OFKNHTTING THE SAME John W. Keziah, $22, Graham, N.C., assignor toAlarnance Industries, Ind, Burlington, N.C., a corporation of NorthCarolina Filed Apr. 19, 1%2, Ser. No. 188,756 17 Claims. (61. 66-480)This invention relates generally to hosiery of the type having apatterned portion which is reciprocatorily knit on a circular hosieryknitting machine and to the method of knitting the hosiery. Moreparticularly, this invention is directed to hosiery of the type in whichthe reciprocatorily knitted pattern portion includes body yarn courseswhich are connected together at their terminal ends to form only onejuncture point in each course and in which the body yarn is selectivelyknit and floated to form the patterned portion while a complete courseis knit with each swing of the needle cylinder.

Circular knitting machines of the type which reciprocate during knittingof the patterned tubular leg and foot of hosiery usually produce whathas become known as solid color patterns, such as the diamond-shapedareas in Argyle hosiery. While this type of knitting machine has beenutilized to produce designs other than diamonds, the same principle hasbeen employed to knit all solid color patterns. In the knitting of solidcolor patterns, the pattern yarns are selectively fed to groups ofadjacent needles to form adjacent and connected portions of a courseduring each knitting stroke of the needle cylinder and a completecourse, having segments of different colored yarns, is usually knit witheach knitting stroke in both directions. There are a great number ofthese solid color pattern knitting machines presently in use and it ispreferred that the patterned hosiery of the present invention be knit onthis type of machine.

Solid color pattern knitting machines have also been used to knit a mainrepeated pattern while the needle cylinder is continuously rotated but,with continuous rotation of the needle cylinder, solid color patternpanels cannot be produced. Also, when the main pattern is continuedalong the upper half of the foot, both main yarns must be knit in theplain knit portions of the courses which extend around the lower half ofthe foot.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide novel patterned hosiery in which the tubular legand/or foot portions include successive reciprocatorily knitted bodyyarn courses forming a repeated main pattern which encompasses a majorportion of each course and in which the body yarn is knit in every Waleof alternating single or pairs of courses and knit in selected wales andfloated across the other wales of intervening single or pairs ofcourses.

It is another object of the present invention to provide patternedhosiery of the type described wherein the repeated main pattern isformed by a pair of body yarns having different characteristics and inwhich main pattern, one of the body yams is knit in every Wale ofalternating pairs of courses while the other body yarn is knit inselected Wales and floated across the other wales in intervening pairsof courses.

It is another object of the present invention to provide patternedhosiery of the type described wherein solid color panels of variousdesigns may be knit with' the main pattern, such as down opposite sidesof the leg.

It is another object of the present invention to provide patternedhosiery of the type described wherein the main pattern may be continuedalong the upper half of the foot of the hose and the plain knit portionsof the courses extending around the lower half of the foot are formed ofa single body yarn.

easiest Patented July 13, $65

ice

It is still another object of the present invention to provide patternedhosiery of the type described wherein pattern panels may be providedalong opposite sides of the leg by selectively varying the knittingselection of the body yarns during the knitting of the pattern panelportion of each course.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a novel methodof knitting patterned hosiery of the type described which may be easilypracticed on existing hosiery knitting machines without requiringextensive modification of the machines.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of 'a preferred type of patterned hose madein accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the hose, taken along'theline 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view of.a portion of the hose, taken along the line 3-3 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a greatly enlarged View of that area of the fabric enclosedWithin the dash-dot lines indicated at 4 in FIGURE 1 and illustratingthe manner in which two body yarns are interknit to form one typepattern on the hose;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are diagrammatic developed views of the latch ring ofthe knitting machine and illustrate the manner in which the needles arecontrolled at the two separate knitting stations when the needles aremoving in one direction and then in the opposite direction, and knittingthe main pattern portion of the hose shown in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURES 7 and 8 are somewhat schematic plan views of the circle ofneedles and illustrate the manner in which the yarns are fed to theneedles during successive knitting strokes;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the needle circle and diagrammaticallyillustrating the manner in which the two main body yarns are knit insuccessive courses;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevation of another hose ernb'odying a modifiedform of pattern which may be made in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIGURE 11 is a horizontal sectional View taken along the line 1111 inFIGURE 10; and

FIGURE 12 is a greatly enlarged view of that portion of the fabricwithin the dash-dot rectangle indicated at 12 in FIGURE 10. p

Refer ring particularly to FIGURE 1, the first form of patterned hoseincludes a top or stretchable cuff 15, apatterned leg generallyindicated at L, a heel pocket 16, a foot 17 and a toe pocket 18. The.top may be knit in any suitable manner and it is preferred that sometype of stretchable or elastic yarn be incorporated therein to helpsupport the hose on the leg of the wearer. In the present instance, thepatterned portion extends only along the upper half or instep portion ofthe foot 17, however, it is to be understood that the pattern may alsoextend around the lower half or sole portion of the foot 17, ifdesired.-

It will be noted that the main pattern is regularly repeated throughoutthe major portion of the leg L and is generally characterized by aplurality of vertically or walewise extending ribs 20 which are the samecolor throughout their length and variegated walewise extending areas 21therebetween. A walewise extending pattern panel 25 is provided in themedial portion of opposite sides of the leg and contains a pattern whichdiffers from the main repeated pattern. The pattern panel 25 may beformed by varying the wales in which the body yarns are knit, as

. escapee shown, or by adding additional pattern yarns, in a manner I tobe later explained.

The manner in which the main pattern shown in FIG- URE 1 is formed,including the walewise ribs 20, the variegated walewiseextending areas21,.and a portion of the pattern panel 25, may be more easilyunde-rstoodby referring' to the 'stitch structure shown'in FIGURE 4. In

FIGURE 4, the regularly repeating main pattern is'shown in wales W-14through W 25 and-the walewise extend-p in-g ribs-20 are formed inthepairs of adjacent wales W-14 and W 15, W48 and W-19, W 22 and W 23while the variegated walewise extending areas 21 therebetween are formedin the pairs of adjacent wales W416; and W-17,

' W-Ztl and JV-21, W 24 and W-ZS. In this main pattern area, alternatepairs of adjacent courses, such as those indicated at C-1, and C2, C-5and-C-d, (1-9 and C-ith 0-13 and (3-14, C-l'i and C 18, (3-21 and C22,are knit of a first main yarn indicated at Y while intervening pairs ofadjacent courses, such as courses C-3 and C-4, C-7- and (3-8, (3-11 andC-12, 0-15 and (3-15, C-19 and C-Ztl, 0-23, and (3-24, are'knit of asecond main yarnindicated at E.

The yarn Y has been speckled to help distinguish it from the yarn E andit is preferred that the two main body yarns Y and E have differentcharacteristics, such. as diffe-rent' colors and/or different degrees'of stretchability.

When the body yarn E has a greater degree of stretchability, thefloating portions, which extend behind the stitch loops in the ribs 20,contract the fabric coursewise and make the ribs 20 extendoutwardly fromthe outer face of the relaxed fabric, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. It

is also preferred that the yarns Y and E be of a different color inorder to provide the variegated appearance in the walewise extendingareas 21. Other unusual patterns or effects may be achieved by using ofdifferent sizes. a

Although the main pattern shown in wales W-14 through W-25 repeats aftereach four wales'and courses,

yarns Y and E. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 4, the yarns Y and E are knitin selected wales toproduce a pattern yarns Y and E which'are SCOPknitting machines.

sary; 1Thereis a large number of these machines currently producinghosiery and they are known as Model SCP and These machines are providedwith a pair of knitting stations with means in advance of each knittingstation for selectively actuating the needles to take and knit yarns ateither of the two knitting stations during movement of the needlecylinder in both directions to knit tubular patterned fabric.

FIGURES 5 and 6 show a developed View of the latch ring 40 of this typeof circular knitting machine with the circle of needles N broken andflattened out. The latch ring 44 includes a main .yarn feeding station Mhaving a throat opening 41 and an auxiliary yarn feeding station Ahaving a throat opening 42 which is positioned approximately 180 degreesacross the needle cylinder from the main throat opening 41. A pluralityof yarn feeding fingers 43am movable into and out of yarn feedingposition in the main throat 41 by a conventional pattern drum, notshown. The auxiliary throat 42 is provided with a plurality of yarnfeeding fingers 44 which are movable into and out of yarn feedingposition by a conventional pattern drum, not shown. v

This type of machine is also provided with the usual sets of stitch camsat each knitting station and needle selecting means in advance of eachof the knitting stationsf The needle selecting means acts when theneedle cylinder is swinging in both directions to selectively raiseneedles to a sufficient height to pass over the leading stitch cam,where they are'raised to shed level, pick up a knitting yarn from thefingerwhich is in yarn feeding positiornand then pass beneath the secondstitch cam to form stitch loops on those needles which pass through thestitch cams. Any needles which are not selected and raised to passthrough the stitch cams merely retain the stitches previously formed ontheir shanks and the yarn which is knit on the needles on opposite sidesof the inactive needles forms a float insideof the fabric.

In order toknit the hose shown in FIGURE 1, the top or. end? portion 15is knit in the usual mannerand any conventional type ofmake-up may beformed on the bare needles to start the top of the cuff 15. The cuffportion 15 preferably has an elastic yarn incorporated therein to makethe top self-supporting on the leg of the wearer. The cuif 15 may beknit by utilizing either one or both of the knitting stations of theknitting machine, as desired.

- Upon completion of the end or rib. portion 15, the

' machine switches into reciprocatory motion and the which has theappearance of three spaced apart or vertically extendin g walewise barsor rods with a rod of another color wrapped around the centermost rod ina spiraled manner.

other yarns to form solid color patterns as the successive Also, thepattern courses are knit in different directions. panels 25 can becompletely omitted and the main pattern As shown in FIGURE 4, thiseifect is achieved by selectively knitting and floating the yarns Y andE in successive courses and this selective knitting of needlecylinder isfirst swung in one'direction and then in the other direction. The needlecylinder swings one and three-quarters revolutions in each direction toinsure 7 that all of the needles pass by each knitting station asufiicient distance thatthe needle selector means will operate properlyand that a complete course may be knit continued completely around theleg of the stocking. It

It is preferred that the first form of hose, shown, in

FIGURES 1 through 4,'be knit on a two feed circular knitting machine inwhich the needle cylinder reciprocates to form a tubular patternedfabric and which is known as a solid color pattern knitting machine. Ama chine of the. preferred type, is dis-closed in U .8. Patent No.2,217,022 which may be referred to for any details necesof the foot beplain; knit of at each knitting station. a

In order to knit the main repeating pattern of the fabric, as shown inwales W-Mthrough W-25 of FIG- URE 4, the needles N first pass theknitting stations in one direction, with the needle cylinder rotating ina counterclockwise direction, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 7. Then, theneedles move past the knitting stations in the opposite direction, withthe needle cylinder moving in a clockwise direction, as shown in FIGURES6 and 8. When both knitting stations M and A are in operation, twocomplete courses are knit witheach complete swing of the needle cylinderin each direction Thus, as is indicated by the arrows in wales W-M andW-I'T of FIGURE 4, adjacent single courses, such as courses C 2 and C-3,are knit in the same direction and one ofthe courses is knit of the yarnY which is fed at the knitting station vM and the other course is knitof the yarn E which is fed at the other knitting station A. The arrowson the fabric'in FIGURE '4 indicate the direction in which each of thecourses were knit and this direction will be opposite to the arrows inFEGURES 5- and 6 which indicate the direction of movement of theneedles.

To knit the main pattern portions of courses C-2 and C3, from wales W-14through W-ZS, the needle cylinder swings in a counterclockwisedirection, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 7 and all of the needles which formthe main pattern are raised to pass through the knitting station M andform stitch loops of the yarn Y in every wale. Then, needles in walesW-16 and Wll7, W-Zd and W-ZI, W24 and W are raised to pass through theknitting station A and form stitch loops of the yarn E. In the wales inwhich the needles ar not raised at the auxiliary knitting station A, theyarn E forms floats.

When the needle cylinder then swings in the clockwise direction, asshown in FIGURES 6 and 8, the group of needles which knit the mainpattern, including those which form the stitch loops W-14 through W-25in FIGURE 4, first pass the auxiliary knitting station A and then themain knitting station M to form the successive courses C-4 and C-5.During this clockwise swing of the needle cylinder, alternate pairs ofadjacent needles, those needles in wales W-24- and W-25, W-Zt) and W41,W46 and W-I'7, are raised to pass through the auxiliary knitting stationA and form stitch loops of the yarn E. Then, as the needles approach themain knitting station M, they are all selected to pass theret-hrough andform stitch loops of the yarn Y in every wale W44 through W2 5 of courseC-S.

Throughout the knitting of the main repeated pattern in the leg andupper portion of the foot this sequence, outlined above for courses C-2through C-S, is repeated to thus form a pair of adjacent courses witheach swing of the needle cylinder. As is clearly shown in FIGURE 4,those needles which knit to form the ribs 2@ knit only half as manytimes as the needles which knit to form the areas 21 therebetween. Thus,the stitch loops in the walewise ribs 2th are twice as long as thestitch loops in the areas 21 therebetween. Also, in the areas 211,alternating pairs of adjacent courses are formed of the same type ofyarn and intervening pairs of adjacent courses are formed of anothertype of yarn to provide horizontal stripes in these areas 21.

The pattern panel 25 on opposite sides of the leg of the hose, may becompletely omitted and the complete leg knit with the repeating mainpattern heretofore described. However, a wide range of designs can beeasily knit in the pattern panel 25 by merely varying the knitting ofthe two main body yarns Y and E, and the manner of knitting theparticular design shown on the side of the hose in FIGURE 1 will bebriefly described. Referr-ing to FIGURE 4, it will be noted that aportion of the pattern panel 25 is shown in Wales W-7 through W- 12 andthat the pattern is formed by controlling the needl s which knit the twomain yarns Y and E;

During the knitting of the courses G l and C-S, the needle cylinderswings in a counterclockwise direction and all of the needles in walesW-7 through W-1-2 take and knit the yarn Y at the main knitting stationwhile only the needle in wale W42 takes and knits the yarn E at theauxiliary knitting station. When the needle cylinder swings in theopposite direction (clockwise) to knit the courses (3-4 and C-5, theneedles in wales W-IZ and W ll take and knit the yarn E at the auxiliaryknitting station and then the needles in wales W49, W-9, W8 and W-7 takeand knit the yarn Y at the main knitting station. It will be noted thatthe yarn E is floated behind the stitch loops of the yarn Y in wales W-7through W and the yarn Y is floated behind the stitch loops of the yarnE in wales W1 1 and W-IZ.

During the next swing (counterclockwise) of the needle cylinder, thecourses C-6 and C7 are knit and the needles in wales W'7 through W-liitake and knit the yarn Y at the main knitting station and then theneedles in wales W40 through W-lZ take and knit the yarn E at theauxiliary knitting station. In the next swing (clockwise) of the needlecylinder, the courses 0% and C-9 are knit and the needles in Wales W-IZ,W-lll. and W-9 take and knit the yarn E at the auxiliary knittingstation and then the needles in wales W-lti, W-S and W-7 take and knitthe yarn Y at the main knitting station. During the next swing(counterclockwise) of the needle cylinder, the courses C-It) and C-11are knit and the needles in wales W-7 and W-Itt take and knit the yarn Yat the main knitting station and then the needles in wales W-fi, W-9,W-II and W-IZ take and knit the yarn E at the auxiliary knittingstation. During the reciprocatory knitting of the remaining coursesshown in FIGURE 4, namely courses C-12 through C-25, the pattern panel25 is knit by the needles in wales W-7, W-8, W9, W-Il and W-IZ takingand knitting the yarn E at the auxiliary knitting station while theneedle in wale W-ltl takes and knits the yarn Y at the main knittingstation. As shown in wale W43, both yarns Y and E are taken and knitwith each swing of the needle cylinder in both directions.

It is to be understood that the pattern shown in the panel 25 representsonly one of many different types of patterns which may be knit byvarying the selection of the needles as they pass the main and auxiliaryknitting stations; Also, it is to be understood that additional patternyarns of different colors may be knit in selected wales of the patternpanels 25 while'the main body yarns Y and E are floated to form smallsolid color patterns down opposite sides of the hose.

In order that the knitting of the pattern fabric shown in the first formof hose shown in FIGURES 1 through 4 will more clearly be understood,the knitting of the courses C-2 through (3-7 is schematicallyillustrated in FIGURE 9. As shown in FIGURE 9, the needle cylinder isrotating in a counterclockwise direction and courses (3-2 and 0-3 aresimultaneously being knit by feeding the yarns Y and E from therespective main knitting station M and auxiliary knitting station A andto the needles N. The knitting of the succeeding courses isschematically indicated by the circles within the needles N.

In order to reciprocatorily knit a tubular fabric of a single yarn, theyarn knits a full course in one direction, stopping at a selectedneedle, and then the yarn knits a full course in the opposite direction,again stopping at the selected needle. Thus, in reciprocatorily knittubular fabric, which is knit of a single yarn, the ends of the coursesare joined together and the trailing end of one course is joined to theleading end of the next course at what is usually termed a suture or atwhat may be called a turn-around. When the tubular fabric is knit of twomain yarns which are fed at opposite sides of the needle cylinder sothat two courses are formed with each swing of the needle cylinder, asis the case in the first hose shown in FIGURES 1 through 4, then asuture will be formed down opposite sides of the tubular fabric.

With the needle cylinder rotating in a counterclockwise direction, asshown in FIGURE 9, the yarn Y is first knit on a needle indicated at6%), which will be referred to as the suture for the yarn Y. Then, theyarn Y is knit on selected ones of the needles which form the patternpanels 25 and knit on every one of the needles which form the mainpattern areas to form a course which is schematically shown at C2. Thiscourse (3-2 is completed when the yarn Y is again knit by the sutureneedle 63.

During this same counterclockwise swing of the needle cylinder, the yarnE is also being fed to and knit by the needles N, starting with a sutureneedle indicated at 61 in FIGURE 9. The yarn E is knit on selected onesof the needles which form the pattern panels 25 and knit on alternatepairs of needles which form the main pattern areas to knit the courseC-3. The knitting of the course (3-3 of the yarn E ends with theknitting of the suture needle 61, after the needle cylinder has rotatedin a counterclockwise direction far enough that the suture needle 61will again pass through the auxiliary knitting station A.

During the next swing (clockwise) of the needle cylin- 'der, the yarns Eand Y form the respective courses C-d and (3-5 in a reverse directionfrom the courses C 2 and C-3. As is schematicallyillustrated in FIGURE9, the direction of knitting of the yarn Y is reversed at the sutureneedle 60 and the direction of knittingof the yarn E is reversed at thesuture needle i 7 Thus, the courses whichare knit of the yarn Y alwaysstart at the suture. needle dd, knit completely around the cylinderuntil the needle 66 is again reached and reverse directions to knitcompletely around the cylinder again to the suture needle 60. At thesame time, the courses which are knit of the yarn E always start at thesuture cent the sides of the pattern panels 25 and'the suture walesformed thereby are respectively indicated at dtla and 61a.

in FIGURE 2.

Thus, the hose shown in FIGURESI through 4 has a patterned leg L whichincludes a reciprocatorily knit repeated main pattern which is formed ofa pair of main body yarns that are knit in alternating pairs ofsuccessive courses. One of the main body yarns is knit in every waleofthe main pattern and the other main body yarn is selectively knit andfloated to form walewise extending.

ribs which are formed solely of the second main body yarn. Thoseportions of the courses between the walewise ribs are alternately formedof the first and second tersto corresponding partsof the first form ofhose with the prime notation added. a

body yarns with the second of'the body yarns being floated behind thestitch loops of the walewise ribs. addition to the main repeated;pattern, pattern panels have been provided on opposite sides of the legof the hose. These pattern panels 'may be formed with a wide range ofdesigns by varying the knitting of the two inain body yarns in apredetermined manner.

fore described, various other patterns may be'knit by utilizing thebasic principles of the present invention. F or example, it is possibleto feed the same, color and types of yarns at both'knitting stationswhile reciprocating the needle cylinder and knitting on all of theneedles at one of the knitting stations and on selected needles at theother as the hose shownin FIGURES 1 through 4 may be knit by alternatelyfeeding two main body yarns from a single 7 7 Thus, a patterned hosemayv be knit. on a circular hosiery knitting machine of the typehavknitting station.

ing a single knitting station and needle selecting means in advance ofthe knitting station when the needlecylinder is reciprocating in eachdirection; In this instance, all of the needles in the repeated mainpattern area will knit during two consecutive swings of the needlecylinder and then during the next two consecutive swings of the needlecylinder, only selected needles in the repeated main pattern area willknit to thereby produce a main repeated pattern in which certain walescontained elongated stitches.

Referring toFlGURES 10, 11 and 12, there is shown another form ofpatterned hose which is knit in accordance with the present invention.Since this second form of hose is similar in many respects to the firstform of hose shown in FIGURES 1 through 4, corresponding parts of thesecond form of hose will bear like reference charac- 7 40 In addition tothe first form of patterned hose hereto As shown in FIGURE 10,,thesecond form of hose includes a top or stretchable cuff 15, a patternedleg generally indicated at L, a heel pocket 16, a foot 17', and a toepocket 18. The main pattern is regularly repeated throughout the majorportion of the leg L and is generally characterized by a plurality ofvertically or walewise extending ribs 2% having walewise extending plainknit areas Zi'therebetweenf A walewiseextending pattern panel isprovided in the medial portion of opposite sides of the leg L andcontains a plurality of portions of plain knit courses which areprovided with solid color patterned designs 26. It is'preferred that thesolid color patterned designs 26 be knit of a yarn which is of adifferent color than the yarn which knits the main repeated pattern inthe leg .L'.

The fragmentary portion of the main repeated pattern of the hose shownin wales W-Stl through W-dl and courses C-titi through C 63 of FIGUREIZillustrates the manner in which the reciprocatory courses are knit toform the main repeated pattern. It will be noted that the portion of themain repeated pattern .shown in FIGURE 12 includes a pair of spacedapart walewise extending ribs 2-53 with plain knit portions of coursestherebetween and adjacent opposite sides, as indicated at 21. Inthismodified hose, it is preferred that the main repeated pattern be formedof a single body yarn which is indicated at P in FIGURE. 12. Thispattern is formed by knitting the main body y-arn P at only a singleknitting station while the needle cylinder is reciprocated. Duringalternate swings of'the'needle cylinder the main body yarn P is knit onall of the needles in the main pattern area and then knit on selectedneedlesduring intervening knitting strokes.

For example, during the .knitting of courseC-60, the mainbody yarn P isknit on all of the needles as. the

cylinder swings in a clockwise'direction to form stitch loops on all ofthe needles in the wales W-Stl through 'W t1. Then, on the next. swing(counterclockwise), the

' .a hose having a main repeated pattern throughout the leg 'and/ or aportion of the foot 17' may be formed on a circular hosiery knittingmachine having only a single knitting station. However, when it isdesired to include other yarns in the patternpanels 25', it is preferredthat point or knit suture will be formed in the hose.

cylinder.

the hose be kniton a two-feed circular knitting machine. Then, the mainyarn will be fed from one of the knitting stations and the pattern yarnsfor knitting the difierent solid color designs 26 in the pattern panels25' will be fed to selected needles from the second knitting station.

Since'the main pattern yarn or body yarn P is fed from a single knittingstation, the reciprocatorily knit successive courses in the main patternarea will start and end at the same suture needle so that only a singlejuncture v In the present instance, the yarn P begins and' completeseach knitting stroke at the suture needle which knits a wale in thecentermost front portion of the'leg and this suture Seam'iS indicated atsea in FIGURE 11.

The production rate ofthe second form of hose shown in FIGURESZIOthrough 12 will be slower than the production rate of the form of hoseshown in FIGURES 1 through 4 because, in the second form of hose only a"single reciprocatory course is knit with each swing of the needlecylinder while in the first form of hose a pair of courses are knit witheach swing of the needle 7 However, a greater range .of patterns. may beknit in the pattern panels by feeding the body yarn from a one knittingstation while feeding solid color pattern yarns at the other knittingstation.

In each embodiment of the patterned hosiery described, the main repeatedpattern area in the leg and/ or foot portion includes a plurality ofsuccessive reciprocatorily formed courses. The main pattern is formed byknitting a body yarn in every wale in alternating pairs or singlecourses and then knitting body yarn in certain selected Wales inintervening pairs or single courses to produce walewise extendingpattern lines or ribs.

While it is preferred that two separate body yarns be utilized inknitting the main pattern area, it is also possible to knit the mainpattern area by using only a single body yarn. When two main body yarnsare used to form the main repeated pattern, it is preferred that they befed from separate knitting stations to form two courses with each swingof the needle cylinder. It is to be understood that the spacing betweenthe walewise pattern lines or ribs can be varied as desired and thatalternating reciprocatory courses are knit on all of the needles andintervening reciprocatory courses are knit on selected needlespositioned throughout the main pattern area.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

I claim:

1. A plain knit seamless hose having a leg and foot, at least the majorportion of said leg having a main repeated pattern comprising (1) aplurality of alternating and intervening reciprocatorily knit successivecourses,

(2) normal stitch loops formed in certain wales of said alternatingcourses and elongated draw stitches formed in other Wales of saidalternating courses,

(3) opposite ends of said alternating courses terminating in a commonwale,

(4) normal stitch loops formed in said certain wales of said interveningcourses and floats formed in said other wales of said interveningcourses, and

(5) opposite ends of said intervening courses terminating in a commonwale.

2. A plain knit seamless hose having a leg and foot, at least the majorportion of said leg having a main repeated pattern comprising (1) aplurality of reciprocatorily knit successive courses,

(2) normal stitch loops formed in certain wales of regularly spacedcertain courses thereof and elongated draw stitches forrned in otherwales of said certain regularly spaced courses,

(3) said normal and elongated stitches being regularly repeatedthroughout the major portions of each of said certain courses,

(4) opposite ends of said certain courses terminating in a common wale,

(5) normal stitch loops formed in said certain wales of other coursesand floats formed in said other wales of said other courses, and

(6) opposite ends of said other courses terminating in a common wale.

3. A plain knit seamless hose having a leg and foot, at least the majorportion of said leg having a main repeated pattern comprising 1) aplurality of alternating and intervening reciprocatorily knit successivecourses,

(2) normal stitch loops formed in certain wales of said alternatingcourses and elongated draw stitches formed in other wales of saidalternating courses,

(3) opposite ends of said alternating courses terminating in a commonwale,

(4) normal stitch loops formed in said certain wales CTL it of saidintervening courses and floats formed in said other wales of interveningcourses,

(5) opposite ends of said intervening courses terminating in a commonwale, and

(6) each ofsaid certain wales of said main repeated pattern includingtwice as many stitch loops as said other wales.

4. A plain knit seamless hose having a leg and foot, at least the majorportion of said leg having a main repeated pattern comprising (1) aplurality of alternating and intervening reciprocatorily knit successivecourses,

(2) normal stitch loops formed in certain wales of said alternatingcourses and elongated draw stitches formed in other wales of saidalternating courses,

(3) said normal and elongated stitches being regularly repeatedthroughout the major portions of each of said alternating. courses,

(4) opposite ends of said alternating courses terminating in a commonwale,

(5) normal stitch loops formed in said certain wales of said interveningcourses and floats formed in said other wales of said interveningcourses,

(6) opposite ends of said intervening courses termi mating in a commonwale, and

(7) each of said certain wales of said main repeated pattern includingtwice as many stitch loops as said other wales.

5. A plain knit seamless hose having :a leg and foot, at least the majorportion of said leg including a main repeated pattern comprising (1) aplurality of alternating and intervening reciprocatorily knit successivecourses,

(2) a yarn knit in every wale of said alternating courses in the mainpattern area,

(3) opposite ends of said alternating courses terminating in Walewisealignment and in a common wale,

(4) a yarn knit in certain wales of said intervening courses andfloating across other wales of said intervening courses in the mainpattern area,

(5) opposite ends of said intervening courses terminating in a commonwale, and

(6) said certain wales containing twice as many stitch loops as saidother wales.

6. A plain knit seamless hose having a leg and foot, at least the majorportion of said leg including a main repeated pattern comprising (1) aplurality of reciprocatorily knit successive courses,

(2) a main body yarn knit in every wale of alternating pairs of saidcourses in the main pattern area.

(3) opposite ends of all of said alternating pairs of body yarn coursesterminating in a common wale,

(4) an auxiliary body yarn knit in certain wales of intervening pairs ofsaid courses and floated across other wales of said intervening pairs ofsaid courses in the main pattern area,

(5) opposite ends of all of said intervening pairs of auxiliary bodyyarn courses terminating in a common wale that is located on theopposite side of the leg of the hose from said common wale in which saidalternating pairs of body yarn courses terminate,

(6) said certain wales consisting of alternating pairs of stitch loopsof said main and auxiliary body yarns, and

(7) said other wales containing stitch loops of only said main bodyyarn.

7. In a knit seamless hose according to claim 6, wherein said main andauxiliary body yarns are different colors and produce a main repeatedpattern in which said yarns alternately form different color stitchloops in said certain wales and stitch loops of only one color areformed in said other wales.

8. In a knit seamless hose according to claim 6, where- 'waleswiseextending ribs. 7 t

9. A plain knit seamless hose having a leg and foot, said leg containing7 (1) a plurality of alternating and intervening reciprocatorily knitsuccessive courses which include (A) apair of opposed relatively narrowpattern panols, each panel extending down the sides of (a) stitch loopsformed in every wale oi said alternating courses in the main patternare-as, a

(b), opposite ends of said alternating courses terminating in a commonWale, I

1 (c) stitch loops formed in certain wales of said intervening coursesand floats formed 7 in other wales of said intervening courses in themain pattern areas, (d) said stitch loops and said floats beingalternately repeated in a regular manner in said intervening courses,and (e) said certain 'wales containing twice as many stitch loops assaid other wales. 10. A plain knit seamless hose having a leg and foot,said leg containing 1 I V I (l) a plurality of alternating andintervening reciprocatorily knit succesive courses which include (A) apair of'op'posed relatively narrow pattern panels, eachpanel extendingdown the sides of theleg of the hose, and

(B) main repeated pattern areas positioned between said pail-rot narrowpattern panels, said main repeated pattern comprising (a) a'main bodyyarn knit in every Wale of alternating pairs of said courses in the mainpattern areas, (b) opposite ends of all said alternating pairs of bodyyarn courses terminating in a common Wale, (c) an auxiliary body yarnknit in certain wales of intervening pairs, of causes and floated acrossother wales of said intervening pairs of said courses in the mainpattern least the maior portion of the leg of a seamless prising thesteps, of

(l) reciprocatorily knitting a plurality of successive complete courseswhile forming stitch loops of a main body yarn in every wale ofalternating courses in the main pattern area while beginning and endingthe knitting of each of the alternating courses in a common Wale, and

(2) forming "plain stitch loops of an auxiliary body yarn in onlycertain regularly spaced wales of intervening courses in the mainpattern area while beginning and ending the knitting of each of theintervening courses in a common wale.

14. A method of knitting a repeated main pattern in at least the maiorportion of the leg or a seamless hose comi rising the steps of l) recirocatorily knitting a plurality of successive complete courses whileforming stitch loops of a body 'yarn in every wake of alternating singlecourses in thc'main' pattern area, and while forming stitch loops of thebody yarn in only certain regularly spaced wales of intervening singlecourses in the main pattern area, and r t (2) beginning and ending theknitting of each of the alternating and intervening courses in a commonWale.

15. A method of forming a repeated main pattern in hose comareciprocatoriiy knit tubular fabric on a circular knitting 11. In arknitseamless hose according to claim 16,

wherein both the alternating and intervening courses of 1 each of saidnarrow pattern panels includes a predetermined arangement of stitchloops and floats of said main body yarn and stitch loops and floats ofsaid auxiliary body yarn.

'12. A method or: kniting a repeated main pattern in at 13. A method ofknitting a repeated main pattern in at machine having a reciprocatingneedle cylinder, needles supported for individual moverrient in thecylinder, yarn ieeding'means positioned adjacentthe cylinder for feedingyarns to the needles, and means positioned in advance of the, yarnfeeding means for selecting certain needles to form stitches at the yarnfeeding means and for selecting other needles to remain inactive, saidmethod including the steps of (1) reciprocating the needle, cylinder andforming a first plain course with'e'ach swing of the needle cylinder inone direction and forming a second course with each swing of the needlecylinder in the other direc- 7 tion while V (2) feeding yarn: to andforming stitch loops on all of the main pattern needles during theformation of the first course'while beginning'and ending the knitting ofthe first course at a common needle, and (3) feeding yarn to and formingstitch loops on only certain regularly spaced rnain pattern needlesduring the formation of the second course while beginning and ending theknitting of the second course at a common needle. I p V v 16. A methodof forminga repeated main pattern in a reciprocatorily knit tubularfabric on a circular knitting machine having a reciprocating needlecylinder, needles supported for individual movement in the'cylinder, apair or" spaced apart yarn feeding stations positionedadjacent thecylinder for feeding body and auxiliaryv yarns, respectively, to theneedles and means positioned in advance of 1 each of the yarnrfeedingstations for selecting certain needles to form stitches at thecorresponding yarn feeding stations and for selecting-other needles toremain inactive, said method including the steps of (l) reciprocatingthe needle cylinder while forming a complete body yarn plain course anda complete auxiliary yarn course with each swing of the needle cylinder,I

, (2) while forming stitch loops with the body yarn on all of theneedles which knit the main pattern during each swing of the needlecylinder and while beginning and ending the knitting of the body yarn ata common needle, and (3) while forming stitch loops with the auxiliaryyarn on certain regularly spaced ones of the needles which knit the mainpattern during each swing of the needle cylinder and while beginning andending the knitting of the'auxiliary yarn at a comrnon needle.v

17. A method of forming a repeated main pattern in a reciprocatorilyknit tubular fabric on a circular knitting machine having areciprocating needle cylinder, needles supported for individual movementin the cylinder, yarn feeding means positioned adjacent the cylinder forfeeding yarn to the needles and means positioned in advance of the yarnfeeding means for selecting certain needles to form stitches at the yarnfeeding means and for selecting other needles to remain inactive, saidmethod including the steps of (1) reciprocating the needle cylinderwhile forming a complete course with each swing of the needle cylinder,

(2) While beginning and ending the knitting of all the courses at acommon needle,

(3) while forming stitch loops on all of the needles which knit the mainpattern during alternate swings of the needle cylinder, and

(4) while forming stitch loops on certain regularly spaced ones of theneedles which knit the main pattern during intervening swings of theneedle cylinder.

References cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Cartledge 66--42Hirner 66-180 Fisher 66-180 Hiller 6642 Green 66-479 Thurston 66180 XLanson et a1. 66180 X Canavan 66179 X FOREIGN PATENTS RUSSELL C. MADER,Primary Examiner.

1. A PLAIN KNIT SEAMLESS HOSE HAVING A LEG AND FOOT, AT LEAST THE MAJORPORTION OF SAID LEG HAVING A MAIN REPEATED PATTERN COMPRISING (1) APLURALITY OF ALTERNATING AND INTERVENING RECIPROCATORILY KNIT SUCCESSIVECOURSES, (2) NORMAL STITCH LOOPS FORMED IN CERTAIN VALVES OF SAIDALTERNATING COURSES AND ELONGATED DRAW STITCHES FORMED IN OTHER WALES OFSAID ALTERNATING COURSES,